Ladder



March 30, 1937. E. J. ARPS 2,075,494

LADDER Filed Jan. 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5 9 r INVENTOR Fig. BYdvrz/xzd ATTKRNEY March 30, 1937. 4

E. J. ARPS LADDER Filed Jan. 14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR659710110" I 64 A NEY Patented Mar. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES i ATENTOFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention pertains to ladders, and has primarily for its object toproduce an exceedingly light, simple and inexpensive ladder structure,capable of serving as either an extension ladder,

step ladder, or general utility ladder.

Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific object resides in theprovision of a ladder of the foregoing character, comprising pairs ofinner and outer side rails or guides pivotally and slidably connectedwhereby they can be either spread to function as a step ladder, orgeneral utility ladder, or telescope upon each other to provide anextension ladder.

A more detailed object is to provide a ladder of the foregoing type, inwhich a guide member is pivotally connected to one of the laddersections and slidably connected with the adjacent section.

A still further object resides in the provision of a ladder having theforegoing characteristics, in combination with a nesting platform, whichalso serves as a tie to limit spreading or collapsing of the laddersections when the same are open to a step ladder position.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it beingunderstood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of thephysical embodiment of the present invention constructed according tothe best mode so far devised for the practical application of theprinciples thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a ladder constructed in accordance withthe present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section, showing the ladder sectionsspread to step ladder position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the ladder in the positionillustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail of the lower end of the slidable laddersection.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, whereinthe invention esseno tially comprises two ladder sections A and B,

respectively, the numeral l designates the side rails of section A,between which the side rails 2 of section B are nested, as best shown inFigure 1.

While the side rails may be constructed in any conventional manner, itis preferred, for the purpose of lightness and strength, to fabricatethe same, utilizing spaced struts 3 having secured therebetween thesquared ends of the rungs 4. However, it is to be understood that theforegoing structure is old and well-known and therefore forms no part ofthe present invention, other than as hereinafter claimed.

The ends of the struts forming the side rails of both ladder sections Aand B are secured in any suitable manner to connecting blocks 5, and, asbest shown in Figure 6, the ends are further reinforced by the strap 1straddling the ends. The lower ends of the side rails of section Adiffer slightly in formation, in that a pair of straps I are connectedto the outer faces of the struts and connected at their lower ends by aU-shaped strap 8, which form spaced prongs 9 to prevent slippage onhard, smooth surfaces as the lower end of section A is always in contactwith the ground, regardless of the manner in which the ladder is to beused.

As best shown in Figure 5, the rear struts of the side rails 2 ofsection B are of greater width than the front struts, thus causing thesame to project laterally beyond the front struts to support the guidestrips H], which strips have secured to their side faces, adjacent theirupper ends, the bracket plates Ii, which in turn are pivotally connectedto the blocks 5 to which the upper ends of the struts 3 of the siderails l are connected.

Secured to the outer faces of the guide strips 10, adjacent their lowerends, are brackets l2, to which are pivotally connected angle irons I3,having secured thereto in any suitable manner a plurality of transverseslats M which serve to form a platform when. the sections A and B areswung to open position, as illustrated in Figure 3.

Connected to the outer end of each angle iron 13 is a strap I5 having aloop l6 formed on its outer end and then projecting rearwardly in spacedrelation to the angle iron M, the rear end of the strap being secured toone of the transverse slats at [1.

As best shown in Figure 3, when the sections A andB are opened to form astep ladder, the loop I5 is engaged over one of the rungs 4, thusserving to retain the sections in open position. When it is desired tocollapse the sections A and B, it is merely necessaryto release the rungof section A from the loop l6 and allow the strap IE to ride over therung, which automatically causes the platform to be nested between theside rails of section B, as best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Also, when in collapsed position, it will be noted that the straps Isnugly engage the rungs 4 of the outer section A, and, being connectedto the angle irons [3 which are pivotally secured to the brackets l2,serve to securely hold the lower ends of the guide strips against therear struts of the side rails of section B.

When the sections A and B are in normal collapsed position, as shown inFigures 1 and 2, section B is supported by hooks I8 formed on the rearstretches of the straps 1 connecting the lower ends of the struts 3forming the side rails 2, as best shown in Figure 6, the hooks l8 beingengaged over the rungs carried by the side rails l of section A.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that in collapsed positionthe section B is readily slidable upon the guide strips I0. Therefore,in order to extend the sections, it is merely necessary to raise sectionB on section A and engage the hooks l8 upon the rungs of section A, inany desired adjusted position.

On the other hand, when sections A and B are spread to step ladderposition, as indicated in Figure 3, it is essential to provide somemeans to prevent sliding movement of section B upon the guide strips 10.This is accomplished by the provision of blocks [8 secured to the innerfaces of the side rails I adjacent their upper ends. As best shown inFigure 2, the blocks l9 are normally out of the path of travel of theside rails of section B, when sections A and B are collapsed, thus in noway interfering with the sliding movement of section B on section A.However, when sections A and B are swung to open position, as shown inFigure 3, the upper ends of the side rails 2 abut the blocks l9, thuspreventing the same from being projected upwardly on the guide rails l0.Likewise, when in open position, it is also essential to preventwithdrawal of the slide rails 2. Consequently, finger plates 20 aresecured to the inner faces of the side rails 2, and in open positionthese plates project over the blocks l9. Thus it will be seen thatsection B is rigidly held against movement in either direction when inopen position.

From the foregoing explanation, considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it will be readily seen that an extremely simpleand inexpensive structure has been provided, which is capable offunctioning as an ordinary utility ladder, step ladder, or an extensionladder, the salient features of the invention residing in the provisionof two ladder sections, in combination with guide strips pivotallyconnected to one section and slidably associated with the adjacentsection, whereby the sections may be either telescoped or pivoted uponeach other. It will further be seen that extremely simple and novelmeans has been provided for locking the sections against relativemovement when in adjusted open position, no moving parts being required,in that the blocks I!) automatically aline with the upper ends of theside rails 2 and the fingers 20 to prevent such movement.

I claim:

1. A combination ladder comprising, a pair of sections, side rails ofone section nesting between the side rails of the other section, guidestrips pivotally connected to the inner sides of the outer side railsadjacent their upper ends, means slidably connecting the inner siderails with said guide strips, blocks secured to the inner faces of theside rails adjacent their upper ends for engagement with the upper endsof the inner side rails when swung to open position, means carried bythe inner side rails for engaging said blocks to prevent movement ofsaid inner side rails on said guide strips in the opposite direction,and a tie connection between said sections to retain the same in openposition, said connection comprising a platform pivotally connected tosaid guide strips and slidably connected with the adjacent section.

2. A combination ladder comprising a main section and a supplementalsection, each section including longitudinally extending side rails andconnecting rungs, slide bars extending longitudinally of the rails ofthe main section and slidably connected therewith, means pivotallyconnecting the upper ends of the rails of the supplemental section tothe upper ends of the slide bars, and a platform pivotally connected tothe lower ends of the slide bars and slidably connected with a rung ofthe supplemental section.

3. A combination ladder comprising a main section and a supplementalsection, each section including longitudinally extending side rails and7 connecting rungs, slide bars extending longitudinally of the rails ofthe main section and slidably connected therewith, laterally extendingbrackets carried by the opposite ends of the slide bars, means pivotallyconnecting the upper ends of the rails of the supplemental section tothe uppermost brackets, and a platform pivotally connected to thelowermost brackets and slidably connected with a rung of thesupplemental section.

EDMUND J. ARPS.

